The new (Under) Statement

Creative ideas, experimentation, and special projects: statement and understatement come together to create glasses that are important, elegant, and special. Uniqueness is the new rule

words Antonella Reina

‘Statement’ like eccentric. Extravagant. Unique. Exclusive and iconic. There are so many ways to explain the meaning of this style that you often hear about but is really difficult to define, both in fashion and eyewear.
In fact, rather than trying to describe it, it is better to just have a look at some frames to understand how important they can be. When we talk about statement glasses, we are talking about all those models that make you stop and take note: ones that are big and decisive, but above all ‘institutional’ and destined to surpass current trend. Distinguished by unmistakable profiles, colors and materials, they help to create a unique, unforgettable image, and are the ideal tool to show off our personality. With statement eyewear we are declaring and emphasising the exclusivity of our taste. Ever since eyewear began to be considered as a fashion accessory and no longer as a simple tool for correcting vision, designers have worked to invent unique frames that have become so popular over the years that they’ve turned into a must have accessory.

Fedor, the latest model born from the collaboration between Mykita and fashion designer Damir Doma

Think of cat eye glasses, browlines, aviators, and oversized glasses, all unique models that have definitely contributed to giving many wearers their unmistakable style. Considered absolute statements, these frames continue to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration for contemporary brands, who like to reinterpret them with an innovative, experimental twist. And while eccentric colors, special patterns, and frames with lots of glitter and exaggerated inserts make some glasses perfect for getting noticed, in the niche eyewear world, which is often governed by a minimalistic but particularly creative taste, the realms of statement and under-statement can blur, becoming the two sides of the same coin. Go to Berlin and you’ll get the idea. In the supreme capital of the underground scene, the absolute antithesis of statement style, the headquarters of the German brand Mykita is a passionate workplace, where innovation, fantasy, and tradition constantly interact with each other to create special and surprising models.

Signs Eye Coe sunglasses with a 3D-effect ‘side window’

Fedor, the latest ‘steampunk’ incarnation of Mykita’s layer concept, is the result of the now well-established collaboration with fashion designer Damir Doma. It is a frame that plays with transparency, creating a hypnotic effect. Its facade, framed by wide inner edges, looks like it has a double layer, but in fact it is a single flat piece made through a series of manual steps. Moving to Paris, a city where fashion finds its utmost expression and is not devoid of ostentation, the Ahlem eyewear brand stands out for a sort of sobriety that is able to create amazement and admiration. “I wanted my collection to represent the real Paris, a city that is not defined by brands or trends, but rather by the people – a mix of artists and intellects who work hard and hustle, yet who take time to relax and play as well.” Said designer Ahlem Manai-Platt, who has French origins but is based in Los Angeles. He creates frames that are discreet and unconventionally luxurious, but able to enhance your style in an exclusive way. Then we have to go to Milan to discover new manifestations of the particular balance between design, savoir faire, innovation, and craftsmanship that characterise the avant-garde nature of Made in Italy. This is interpreted by the emerging brand Siens Eye Code, which aims to establish a different way of communicating with ourselves and others through the things we wear. Their glasses are created to spark a connection between us and reality, and to inspire us to be authentic and unique. One of the latest creations is a model with a 3D-effect ‘side window’, offering a new take on vision that is practical, comfortable and conceptually open-minded.